The Spartanburg Area Conservancy, also known as SPACE, is cracking down on littering. They’re asking for help from people in the community to do their part to reduce the amount of trash found on the trails. From now until September 19th SPACE, Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful, and Partners for Active Living are partnering together along with the community to host a Litter Sweep.
The organization and its board of directors welcomed Amanda Mathis as SPACE’s new Executive Director in August. Mathis has recently returned back to Spartanburg after several years in Winston Salem as the Marketing and Development Officer for the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership. Her previous professional roles in Spartanburg include marketing and economic development with the City of Spartanburg and Executive Director of Christmas in Action.
SPACE’s mission is to promote, protect, and preserve nature and green spaces in our community. We’re passionate about our work and can’t do it without you! Your support enables us to maintain over 5000 acres of green space in Spartanburg County. It helps with our general operating expenses and provides a runway for special projects like the Cottonwood Trail Boardwalk Restoration. As we’ve learned these past few months, every bit counts. Thank you to our sponsors whose generosity allows us to celebrate together and build a community around this shared passion. And thank you to our volunteers who participate in everything from trail cleanups to event production. We have missed all of you these past months and look forward to celebrating the 30th Anniversary of SPACE together soon. Finally, thank you to the board and advisory groups who donate time, energy, and various resources to Keep Spartanburg WILD! It takes a village.
Thanks to the 25+ volunteers who came out to remove old planks from the Boardwalk and privet from the Cottonwood on MLK day. Special thanks to the United Way of the Piedmont for the volunteer support and to Palmetto Conservation Corps.
MANDY FERGUSON ART WALK RECEPTION WITH LIVE MUSIC BY MARY NORRIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 16TH 2020 Mandy Ferguson's work explores her interest in the connection people have with their environment and the tension that occurs when humans encroach on undeveloped areas. View her window installation and various prints that will be up for one night only during Art Walk.
As the Decade comes to an end we look forward to a bright year ahead for SPACE as we celebrate 30 years of conservation in Spartanburg, and with that comes change. Our Executive Director, Andrew Waters, has moved on to pursue new endeavors, and we want to thank him for the past five years of furthering our mission, serving our community and carving the path for what lies ahead.
Earlier this year, SPACE launched an ambitious $100K fundraising campaign in celebration of Cottonwood Trail’s 30th anniversary. The original 94 acre tract on the Edwin P Griffin Nature Preserve along Lawson’s Fork Creek was purchased in 1990 with funding from the Spartanburg County Foundation. Today the 116-acre Cottonwood Trail includes 4 miles of trail. Named after the “most impressive tree” on the preserve, Cottonwood Trail has become a local landmark and is cornerstone to SPACE’s mission of land conversation, park management, and community engagement.
Our natural places and working lands are part of our character as a community. Through thoughtful conservation, we can keep Spartanburg wild while continuing to grow and thrive.
